Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood

Definition:

Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood refers to a condition characterized by persistent difficulties in eating and/or drinking that significantly affect a child’s nutritional status, growth, and development. It encompasses a range of feeding problems, including inadequate food intake, selective eating, strong food preferences, and aversions towards certain textures or tastes.

Subtypes of Feeding Disorder:

1. Inadequate Food Intake:

This subtype involves a child’s inability to consume an adequate amount of food or liquid to meet their nutritional needs, leading to insufficient weight gain or malnutrition. It can be caused by medical conditions, oral-motor difficulties, gastrointestinal problems, sensory sensitivities, or behavioral factors.

2. Selective Eating:

Selective Eating refers to a child’s refusal to eat certain foods or food groups while accepting only a limited range of preferred items. This can be based on sensory preferences (e.g., texture, taste, smell), and can lead to an imbalanced diet and nutrient deficiencies.

3. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID):

ARFID is a severe form of feeding disorder characterized by an extreme aversion or phobia towards specific foods, textures, smells, or colors. This subtype involves significant restriction on the variety and quantity of foods consumed, resulting in inadequate nutrition, weight loss, and impaired functioning.

4. Feeding Disorder Associated with Other Medical Conditions:

This subtype refers to feeding difficulties that arise as a consequence of underlying medical conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), developmental disabilities, or gastrointestinal disorders. These conditions can impact a child’s ability to eat, digest, or swallow properly.

Treatment:

Treatment approaches for Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood involve a multidisciplinary approach, including medical evaluations, nutritional counseling, and behavioral interventions. The specific treatment plan depends on the child’s individual needs, underlying causes, and severity of symptoms. It may involve sensory desensitization, food exposure therapy, oral motor exercises, feeding therapy, and parent education.

Early identification and intervention are crucial for addressing Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood, promoting healthy growth, and preventing long-term complications associated with inadequate nutrition and feeding difficulties.